A NORTH Wales businessman claimed he was treated "like a drugs baron" in an operation to catch waste criminals.

A NORTH Wales businessman claimed he was treated "like a drugs baron" in an operation to catch waste criminals.

Environment Agency Wales, backed by police and customs officers, raided the home and business premises of Liam O'Grady last Wednesday.

The operation, aimed at tackling "environmental crime" and illegal tipping, was billed "one of the largest operations of its kind".

But Mr O'Grady, from Caernarfon, claims his family has been left traumatised at their treatment.

The 38-year-old, who protests his innocence, was arrested on suspicion of illegally dumping asbestos.

But after spending most of the day being interviewed by police and environmental officials he was released without charge on police bail.

"I've worked my fingers to the bone, seven days a week for the last 18 years. I've never spent a day on the dole and I was treated like a drugs baron," he said.

He claimed even a bread delivery van heading for his wife's cafe on the Cibyn industrial estate, at Caernarfon, was stopped and searched.

Mr O'Grady runs a haulage business and Gwynedd Skips.

He has just moved with wife Rhian, his two daughters, aged 17 and 16, and son aged 14, into a farmhouse on the Waunfawr road, outside Caernarfon.

"I was in Prestatyn at 6.50am on Wednesday morning when I got a telephone call from my yard manager to say the place was covered with police, customs and environment agency people. I thought it was a wind-up," said Mr O'Grady.

He spoke to an Agency official on the telephone who told him to return as quickly as possible because they had a search warrant.

"I said 'Don't touch anything until I get back and my solicitor is present'."

But as he returned to the yard he says he received another call to say police were at his home.

"I got back to the house and didn't have time to get out of the car when I was surrounded by about 15 police officers. They said they had a search warrant and were arresting me for illegally dumping six-and-ahalf tons of asbestos.

"I said they were not going into the house without me or my wife present because three children were asleep in the house."

But Mr O'Grady claims he was put in a police car and driven to Caernarfon police station where he was placed in a cell until 2pm. He was then told he was going to be charged with the theft of a police breathalyser.

Mr O'Grady sai d he explained one of his lorries was involved in an accident and the breathalyser was accidentally dropped in his vehicle by police from Bangor.

He had telephoned them to tell them he had it and would they collect it. They thanked him for the call, but it was not collected.

When interviewed by the Environment Agency about the asbestos, Mr O'Grady claims the weighbridge ticket had been completely misread by the officials.

They had not deducted the six ton weight of the lorry from the load weight. And the asbestos was being dumped legally, he said.

Mr O'Grady said he was later told he was no longer being charged with theft of the breathalyser - but given no apology. "They entered my house and one of my daughters woke to find three policemen standing over her."

Mr O'Grady's solicitor, John Parsons, said Mr O'Grady was a respectable businessman who had never been in trouble.

Mr Parsons confirmed his client was released on police bail to return to the police station in two months time.

A spokeswoman for North Wales Police and Environment Agency Wales said it would "not be appropriate to comment."